Beasley, 32, of Clearlake pleaded not guilty to three felonies, including a pair of murder charges.

Beasley reportedly recruited Frank Maddox, 32, and his wife Yvette, 40, to assist in a Lower Lake marijuana operation run by McKay in October 2009. The couple's decomposing bodies were found down an embankment in early March 2010.

McKay, 30, of Lower Lake faces murder charges as well after allegedly giving Beasley the 9 mm handgun used in the shooting and helping Beasley after the fact. He is not standing trial at this time.

Beasley talked about killing the couple two days before their deaths, according to McKay, who claimed the defendant even tried to pay him $20,000 to kill them.

McKay testified he convinced Beasley to instead scare the Maddoxes by shooting at their feet and telling them to go back to Maine.

The plan allegedly involved Beasley asking the couple for a ride to the airport because his grandmother died.

McKay said he sent Beasley a text message on Jan. 22, 2010, warning that the 9 mm jammed in the past.

McKay testified that when he picked up Beasley on Morgan Valley Road that evening, an "extremely distressed" Beasley said the scaring scheme "didn't work out as planned."

"He told me that he shot them," McKay said.

The two drove to McKay's Lower Lake house, according to McKay, who said he burned Beasley's clothes, backpack and cellphone before burning his own phone as well.

McKay said he helped Beasley move the Maddoxes' truck the next day. Beasley revealed more details about the shooting on the ride back from hiding the truck, according to McKay.

Beasley said Frank and Yvette Maddox gave him a ride, and he had them pull over by saying he had to urinate, according to McKay.

Frank Maddox got out of the truck too and heard Beasley cock the gun, McKay testified.

Beasley said he made Yvette Maddox get out of the truck and he interrogated the couple about the marijuana theft, according to McKay. When the two denied the allegation, Beasley first shot at their feet and then fired a round into Frank Maddox's leg, McKay added.

McKay testified Beasley admitted to shooting the couple each in the head once, dragging them down the hill and firing another round into each of their heads because they were still twitching and making noises.

A few days later when the two men talked, Beasley tried to pay McKay $20,000 to bury the bodies, according to McKay, who said he refused the offer.

Additionally, during the days after the shooting, Beasley expressed second thoughts about whether the couple actually stole his marijuana, McKay said.